The Observer, September 29, 2006
Volume XXXIX, Issue 5
Scots deal another frustrating loss, claim Baird Trophy
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Some days, a win is just not in the cards for a particular team, no matter what it does. The Spartan football team had one of those days last Saturday, as they fell to the Fighting Scots of Wooster College, 21-7.
With the win, the Scots claimed the Baird Trophy, awarded to the winner of the Case-Wooster game since 1984, for the 10th straight season. The loss was the first of the season for the Spartans, dropping their record to 3-1. Wooster improved to 3-0.
The game did not start well for the Spartans, indicating things to come. After Wooster punted on its first possession, Bobby Bott fumbled the return, giving the ball back to Wooster. The defense, though, held the Scots, keeping the game scoreless. However, special teams made more trouble a few minutes later, when Brian Calderone's punt was blocked and recovered by Wooster's Aaron Gertz in the Case endzone for a touchdown, giving Wooster a 7-0 lead.
"We didn't execute the blocking up front," Coach Greg Debeljak said about the play. "The game was won and lost by special teams. It was the first game we didn't win the battle of field position."
The Scots increased their lead early in the second quarter with a long scoring drive. Wooster tailback Dustin Sheppard had three 12-yard runs on the drive, which was capped by a six-yard touchdown pass to Joe Francescangeli.
Case had its first scoring opportunity on its next drive. The Spartans received a pass interference call on third down to help give the drive some momentum, but the Scots stopped the Spartans short of their 20-yard line. Brian Calderone then missed a 39-yard field goal attempt as the Spartans' struggles with special teams continued.
A better scoring opportunity presented itself to the Spartans on their next possession. Dan Whalen completed a 24-yard pass to Matt Skolnicki on third and 11 to get the Spartan offense moving. The drive appeared to have stalled, though, when Whalen was sacked by Wooster's Evan Watson at the 50-yard line. However, on the ensuing punt, the Spartans were given new life after a roughing the kicker penalty. Case appeared poised to put points on the scoreboard before the end of the first half until Whalen threw an interception to Keith Adams at the Wooster seven.
The Scots had possession to start the second half and put the game out of reach with another touchdown. The 10-play, 65-yard drive was set up by a 24-yard pass from Justin Schafer to Shaun Swearingen.
If making mistakes on special teams was the top reason for Case's downfall during the game, the Spartans' inability to capitalize on scoring chances in comparison to Wooster was a close second.
"We played with them, but we didn't make the same plays [that they did] to score," said Debeljak.
"When we get inside the 50, we need to do a better job of finishing," added Whalen.
The Spartans did manage to get on the scoreboard late in the fourth quarter when the final outcome was all but decided. Angelo Mirando entered the game to replace Whalen and accounted for all of the yards on the scoring drive, completing three passes for 34 yards and running for 16 more, including a six-yard run for the touchdown.
It was a frustrating day for the Spartans, as they played better than the score indicated. Until the fourth quarter when the outcome was decided, the Spartans played evenly with the Scots, except on the scoreboard. Unfortunately, wasted scoring chances and mistakes on special teams sealed the Spartans' fate.
"Sometimes they were getting lucky, and sometimes we made mistakes," Calderone said. "It wasn't one of our best games."
"It was a game that we could have won," Debeljak said. "The game was a great example of how special teams can win or lose a game. We had some younger guys filling in [for injured players], and the inexperience showed."
The Spartans have a bye week tomorrow, and it could not come at a better time for the Spartans, as several key players are nursing injuries. The time off will also give them more of an opportunity to prepare for their next opponent, the Bears of Ursinus College. The Bears are 3-0 on the season and have allowed just 15 points through those three games. The teams will play at Case Field on Oct. 7 with kickoff set for 12 p.m.
